GOODYEAR, Ariz. — With shortstop Jean Segura’s sore shoulder not healing as quickly as anticipated, there is a possibility that he will not be ready to play by opening day on Monday against Atlanta.

In fact, the possibility exists that Segura might open the season on the disabled list. An MRI performed Wednesday ruled out structural damage but the soreness has prevented Segura from throwing without discomfort, keeping him from playing in the field.

“It’s lingering, but it is getting better every day, which we’re encouraged about,” Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. “But it’s still there a little bit.”

Segura, who is able to swing the bat without discomfort, got at-bats in a minor-league game Wednesday and will do so again Thursday. He will accompany the Brewers to Milwaukee but would have to improve quickly to play in either of the exhibition games Friday and Saturday against Kansas City at Miller Park.

If Segura can’t play in those games, the Brewers have a simulated game Sunday with Wily Peralta slated to pitch. If he can’t participate in that, Segura could land on the 15-day DL.

Teams are allowed to backdate a DL stint 10 days into spring training if the player has not appeared in major league games over that period. In that event, Segura would have to miss at least the first five days of the season. He hasn’t played since March 18.

“We’ll see if he’s ready for Kansas City,” Roenicke said. “We’re day to day. As long as it’s still there, Dr. (William) Raasch and the medical staff don’t want him in there.

“I’m not going to say it’s not (a possible DL situation). They checked it and it’s nothing with the rotator cuff or the labrum. There’s a muscle in there that he strained. When you strain something, sometimes they go away in a couple of days and sometimes it’s a week.

“If he comes out and he throws and there’s nothing there, we would like him to play a little bit before we go into the season.”

Because of Segura’s lingering shoulder soreness, the Brewers added utility infielder Elian Herrera to their travel list for the exhibition games in Milwaukee.

“I’m OK with it,” Roenicke said. “The reason I’m OK with it is any time you have injuries you worry about something bad. To hear that it’s just a matter of days and it will go away, I feel better about that.

“Long-term without ‘Seggy,’ and it’s nothing against (Jeff) Bianchi or Herrera or whoever the other guy is, but when you lose ‘Seggy,’ you don’t want to do that.”

Right-side secrets: The Brewers will be facing Atlanta right-hander Julio Teheran on opening day, but Roenicke wouldn’t reveal whom he plans to start at first base or second base, where he has two choices at both positions.

“I know who I think I’m going to play but these last few (exhibition) games, something happens and somebody (gets hot). If I see somebody really hot, it kind of depends on what we’re seeing the last couple of days.

“I could go into the season and start with a platoon system at second and see how that goes for a bit, then see who’s hot there. If I say at the start of the season I’m going with who’s hot, and either both of them are hot or both of them aren’t, then you have to figure out how to go about. So we’ll see.

“I know what I think I’m going to do, but something may change my mind over the next couple of days.”

Leadoff success:Carlos Gomez has swung the bat well since Roenicke turned the leadoff spot over to him, so there’s no reason to expect a change there before opening day.

“He’s doing really well,” Roenicke said. “I was worried about him — he’s always aggressive — but going overboard with it. But it’s working. I like what I see. If we go in these next few days and he still feels good there and we see good things, we’ll start with that.”

Gomez said he did not plan to do anything different despite batting leadoff for the first time, other than occasional games.

“It doesn’t matter to me where I bat,” he said. “Actually, it’s a little more easy. I’m going to see more pitches to hit. You get more at-bats when you bat first. That’s more chances to do damage.

“I don’t think they want to face a guy batting first who can run and also hit for power. Sometimes the pitcher doesn’t mess around and throws the first pitch for a strike. I have to be ready. I’m going to be aggressive. If this makes the team better, I will do whatever they want.”

Hale and hearty: Other than reliever Francisco Rodriguez stepping on a cactus barefoot, Segura’s ailing shoulder is the only health issue of note to surface in the Brewers’ camp. Considering some of the carnage in other camps, Roenicke is counting his blessings.

“We’ve done really well with the injuries,” Roenicke said. “It’s been a mess in some places.”

Opening festivities: The Brewers announced that Joseph Attanasio, father of the principal owner, will continue the tradition of singing the national anthem before the season opener Monday against Atlanta.

Three Wisconsin-born Olympic medalists from the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, will throw out ceremonial first pitches: Matt Antoine, Prairie du Chien (bronze in skeleton); and Brianna Decker, Dousman, and Jessie Vetter, Cottage Grove (silver in women’s hockey).

Parking lots open at 10 a.m. and Miller Park opens at 11 a.m. There will not be overflow parking at Wisconsin State Fair Park this year.

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